Chapter 545: 546
Long Xue’s voice seemed to carry a peculiar magic, leaving listeners feeling a warm and comforting sensation in their hearts.

Their anxious spirits calmed down in an instant.

Gazing at her exquisite smile, the cultivators found their minds racing with thoughts, but they all obediently took their seats, awaiting the tea gathering’s next proceedings.

“Exquisite!”

“Indeed, the Way of Calligraphy and Painting have been our pursuits since childhood. Though we cannot compare with the Immortal, we are also quite skilled. Today, I shall paint a piece to express my admiration for the Immortal!”

The cultivators were boiling with excitement and visibly agitated, finally reaching the moment where they could show off what they were capable of.

“Naturally, this tea gathering is Lady Long’s affair, and we are merely guests. Everything should focus on mutual exchange and progress through competition.”

“I wonder, Young Master Li, do you have any insight into music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?”

Situ Guixiong’s eyes were shadowy as he spoke indifferently. This tea gathering was a place for young talents to exchange their cultural accomplishments, and the focus was on music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

“Today we have gathered here to exchange our learnings. Since ancient times, calligraphy and painting have been essentials for us cultivators. Since Young Master Li could unveil the mystery within Lady Long’s music in one sentence, I presume he has a profound experience in this regard. Why not join us for an exchange?”

The cultivators’ eyes gleamed with a provocative light. Although they felt uncertain about other things, the Way of Calligraphy and Painting was where they were most confident.

There was a good reason for this; as a distinguished cultivator, even if one couldn’t depict profound meaning or phenomena, they could still render a reasonably accurate likeness and wouldn’t make a fool of themselves, no matter what.

However, Li Xiaobai’s response left everyone staggeringly astonished.

“I have no understanding of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, Brother Situ has found the wrong person,” Li Xiaobai mumbled, his speech unclear as he chewed a banana.

“You…”

Situ Guixiong’s gaze suddenly shifted, a frightening sharpness flickering in his eyes. He had never met someone so shamelessly thick-faced before. He had directly challenged the other party, and yet the latter had simply chickened out?

And with such a dismissive attitude, where was his pride?

And the dignity of a distinguished cultivator?

“Heh, my friends, why not listen to a suggestion from me? Today, let’s take the Eastern Sea as our theme and paint a piece. What do you think of this idea?”

Long Xue smiled faintly, feeling quite helpless about the grudges and competition among these talents.

It seemed that the phrase “keen competition” had been etched into their bones, unstoppable.

“Good, the ancients said, ‘If one does not live an idle life, one can get drunk and ride a whale in the Eastern Sea.’ The Eastern Sea is truly a great place and an excellent theme!”

“Indeed, the words ‘Eastern Sea’ are just right in both scope and depth, perfect for painting.”

“In my mind, a grand vision has already taken form!”

“Thanks to Lady Long for providing the topic, it inspires a wellspring of thoughts in me!”

The proud talents suddenly turned into fawning dogs, praising the theme given by Long Xue to no end as if it had been tailor-made for them.

Li Xiaobai found this quite ridiculous in his heart; these cultivators were too good at flattery. Her suggestion was clearly meant to be fair and impartial, giving a very ordinary term with a broad scope. How could it feel profound as these cultivators claimed?

This ability to force interpretations was unparalleled.

“Since everyone is satisfied, that’s wonderful. I will join you all in completing the painting, and we shall set a time limit of two hours. After two hours, we can appreciate them together!”

Long Xue twisted her wrist, pulling out an incense candle and placing it aside. When the incense had burned out, the two hours would be up.

“Excellent!”

“Excellent!”

The chosen ones nodded, pulled out their brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and began to conceive their respective paintings.

Li Xiaobai looked around, having just appreciated the music, and now it was time to start painting. Had he known this, he should have practiced before coming. He knew nothing about painting and calligraphy.

However, a few people nearby didn’t seem to show any indication, either. A few who seemed to be his senior brothers and sisters were currently pretending to concentrate on a blank piece of paper, pretending to wield their brushes with vigor, yet not a single stroke of ink had graced the paper.

Damn it, these folks must have come prepared, having their works ready in advance; they were just putting on a show here.

Li Xiaobai’s face darkened as he hurriedly took out his own brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He looked around at the cultivators who were frowning and wielding their brushes, wondering what he should paint.

Should he fill the paper with blue to represent the ocean?

That would fit the theme, but it felt a bit basic and unworthy of his identity as a dominant figure on the path to invincibility!

Was there a way to paint something that was both convenient and highlighted the theme?

“Hehe, little brother, have you thought of what to paint?”

The fat man in white approached with a chuckle, rubbing his body against Li Xiaobai.

“Do you know that painting is not just an art of aesthetics, but also psychology?”

Li Xiaobai spoke indifferently, subtly switching his Space Ring to another finger, on guard against the fat man’s sleight of hand.

“Hmm? By that, you mean…?”

The fat man in white showed no embarrassment, asking with a puzzled look in his eyes.

“Hehe, tell me, what kind of painting would win the approval of the masses?”

“Naturally, it would be a piece with profound skills and deep meaning.”

“You are completely mistaken. With the title ‘Eastern Sea,’ they naturally want to see paintings that compliment the Eastern Sea. As long as the essence of the painting resonates with people, even if it’s turned into a pile of excrement, it can still earn applause.”

Li Xiaobai said lightly, his brush sweeping through the air, splashing ink as if he were swallowing mountains and rivers.

Watching his actions, the fat man in white became very puzzled—he wasn’t aware that this youngster possessed such painting skills.

Curious, he leaned closer for a better look, and his face instantly darkened.

Damn it, he was nearly fooled. If he dared to paint like that, it’d be a wonder if he didn’t get beaten up.

Two hours’ time is neither long nor short, and soon the incense candle had burned to its end.

“Lords, how are your paintings coming along?”

Long Xue gently rolled up her painting, wearing a slight smile as she looked around and asked. Her performance was excellent, leaving her quite satisfied with her work.

The young talents below also stopped their brushes and carefully rolled up their paintings, noding, “Thanks to the Immortal’s blessing, today’s painting went very smoothly!”

“Yes, the Immortal’s music earlier led me into a wonderful state, even making my brushwork much smoother!”

The cultivators said cheerfully.

“Haha, I’m sure we’ll be able to see many masterpieces today!”

“Then let us start with mine. Born in Aolai Country, I have some sentiments toward the Eastern Sea. I present my humble work in this event—please have a look; this is my ‘Sea God Scroll’!”

Situ Guixiong said with a smile at the corner of his mouth, unfurling the scroll in his hand for all the cultivators to see.